Antenna



-Dec.20, 1949 e. B. VERNIER ET AL 2,491,629

ANTENNA Filed Nov. 15, 1945 GEORGE B. VERNIER RICHARD L. Ros'r INVENTORS THEIR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENNA Application November 13, 1945, Serial No. 628,149

Claims.

This invention relates to radio antennas, and more particularly to such antennas which may be conveniently collapsed when not in use or readily extended for more efiiclent reception.

Automobiles, portable radio receivers, and like equipment have frequently been provided with rod antennas formed of telescoping sections which may be telescoped together into a small space when they are not in use, and which may be readily extended for greater signal pickup when the radio equipment is in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such an antenna with simple rugged and improved means for retaining it in stored position and yet actuatable to release it quickly when desired so that it may be readily extended.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with par.- ticularity in the appended claims. The present invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an elevational View, partly in section, of an antenna arranged in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same antenna in operated position; and

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the antenna in the position of Figure 2 arranged in a cabinet.

In Figure 1 an antenna Ill, provided with an electrical connection Illa for the input terminal of a radio receiver, is arran ed i a housing lilb, which may, for example, be the cabinet of a portable radio receiver or the hood or top of an automobile or the like. The antenna i is formed of a plurality of concentric tubular sections ii, I2, I23, I4 and I5, surrounding a concentric rod Hi, all nested together. The rod I6 is provided with an enlargement I! on its lower end, and the tubular section I5 is provided with a corresponding reduced portion at its upper end, so that, when the rod IE is raised to cause the enlargement IT to encounter the upper end of the tubular section [5, the tubular section 15 is drawn after the rod 16.

In similar fashion, the tubular sections l5, l4, l3 and 12 are provided with enlarged portions at their lower ends which cooperate with corresponding reduced portions at their upper ends, with the result that steady withdrawal upward I5, 14, I3 and [2 to form a tall rod antenna.

Satisfactory electrical connections between each of the sections is provided for the transfer of radio r nc c rr n 011 the upper end of the center rod l6 there provided an enlarged piece l8 which is preferably o in ulating ma e ia a ranged to lie flus within the enclosure in which the antenna 10 is mounted. One side of the piece I8 is provided with a ed e 9 whi h is e g y a prin catch 26 when the piece I8 is in its lowermost position. The spring catch is fastened at its lower nd by m ans of a ba d 2| around the outer tubula m mbe I! of the antenna I0, and the spring 29 is provided at its upper end with a manual operating part 22, which may be depressed to release the spring 20 from the ledge l9 and allow the withdrawal upward of the piece [8 and the rod 16 together with the tubular sections of the antenna ill.

Within the outer tubular part I l of the antenna Ii}, below the lower ends of the tubular sections l2, l3, Hi, and I5, an enclosing member 23 is provided which supports a coil spring 24 within the tubular section I l. The coil spring forces a washer 25 upward against the lower end of the enlargement ll of the center rod it, The pressure of the spring 24 therefore holds the ledge IQ of the piece L8 firmly upward against the spring catch 28 so that the upper contour of the piece It is flush with the housing within which the antenna L0 is mounted.

The washer 25 is preferably provided with indentation 26 at its ce ter Within which e o r end oi he e la ged art 11 of rod I6 fits.

When the manually operable portion 22 of th spring catch 9 depressed, so that led i9 s re eased, the s rin :2 rapid y forces t center rod I5 and the piece l8 upwards to a position where the piece It may be readily grasped to pull the entire antenna out to its full length.

In Figure 2, the arrangement is illustrated with the parts in the positions assumed just after the sprin catch it has been released from ledge l9. All parts are identical with those illustrated in Figure 1, and like reference characters are applied to them. The pressure of the spring 24 is sufficient to throw the rod l6 upward so that it comes to rest with the enlarged end I! some distance above the washer 25. The washer 25 is pressed upwards against stops formed by depressions 2'! in the wall of the outer tube ii of antenna ID. The depressions 2'! are desirable to avoid the possibility that washer 25 could be turned over at some time when the enlarged part I l of rod 16 is not in engagement with it.

In Figure 3, the cabinet 28 of the portable radio receiver is provided with a back lid 29 in the upper edge of which a recess 39 is provided within which the piece i8 may be depressed. Adjacent the recess 39 the manually operable part 22 of the spring catch 29 is arranged, and the parts are illustrated in the position assumed just after the manual part 22 has been moved to release piece 59 for upward movement. As illustrated, piece is is ready to be grasped so that the whole antenna may be pulled out to extended position for operation.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made Without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. An extensible telescopic antenna comprising: a plurality of tubular members and a rigid central member coaxiall disposed in nested relation when said antenna is in a retracted condition and disposed in axial alignment when said antenna is in an extended condition, said central member having a length intermediate the lengths of the inner and outer ones of said tubular members; i3, compression spring axially disposed with in said outer tubular member; releasable means for retaining said central member against the restoring force of said spring; and means for suddenly arresting expansion of said spring upon release of said central member retaining means thereby to launch said central member axially to a position for ready extension of said antenna.

2. An extensible telescopic antenna comprising: a plurality of tubular members and a rigid central member coaxially disposed in nested relation when said antenna is in a retracted condition and disposed in axial alignment When said antenna is in an extended condition, said central member having a length intermediate the lengths of the inner and outer ones of said tubular members; a compression spring axially disposed Within said outer tubular member; a releasable catch mechanism for retaining said central member against the restoring force of said spring; and a limiting arrangement for suddenly arresting the restoring action of said spring upon release of said catch mechanism thereby to launch said central member axially to a position for ready extension of said antenna.

3. An extensible telescopic antenna comprising: a plurality of tubular members and a rigid central member coaxially disposed in nested relation when said antenna is in a retracted condition and dis-posed in axial alignment when said antenna is in an extended condition, said central member having a length intermediate the lengths of the inner and outer ones of said tubular members; a compression spring axially disposed within said outer tubular member; a releasable catch mechanism for retaining said central member against the restoring force of said spring; and a limiting stop disposed within said outer tubular member for suddenly arresting the restoring action of said spring upon release of said catch 'mechanism thereby to launch said central member axially to a position for ready extension of said antenna.

4. An extensible telescopic antenna comprising: a plurality of tubular members and. a rigid central member coaxially disposed in nested relation when said antenna is in a retracted condition and dis-posed in axial alignment when said antenna is in an extended condition, said central member having a length intermediate the lengths of the inner and outer ones of said tubular members; a compression spring axially disposed within said outer tubular member; a Washer slidably supported Within said outer tubular member and in engagement with said compression spring; a releasable catch spring engageable with said central member for retaining said central member in contact with said washer against the restoring force of said compression spring; and a stop disposed Within said outer tubular member for limiting axial movement of said Washer suddenly to arrest the restoring action of said compression spring upon release of said catch spring thereby to launch said central member axially to a position for ready extension of said antenna.

GEORGE B. VERN'IER. RICHARD L. ROST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 946,949 Ward Jan. 18, 1910 1,045,634 De Arment Nov. 26, 1912 1,064,070 Gibbs June 10, 1913 1,412,373 Shields Apr. 11, 1922 1,701,027 Brown Feb. 5, 1929 1,795,747 Viken Mar. 10, 1931 2,137,450 Green Nov. 22, 1938 2,327,163 Barrett Aug. 17, 1943 2,391,202 Tellander et a1 Dec. 18, 1945 

